'Our marriage has withstood the years' - Elderly couple thank God for 50th wedding anniversary celebration
Published:Saturday | August 25, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer
DRAPERS, Portland:
FOR FIFTY years, Ronald and Anita Fearon have remained loyal to their marriage, which took place less than two months before Jamaica gained Independence from its colonial masters.
The couple recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family members at their home in Drapers Heights, Portland, and was treated to two days at a luxury hotel in St Ann, which was like the icing on the cake.
"It was a special occasion. Ronald and I received a special treat from our children, and we spent two nights at Hotel Royal Decameron in St Ann," recounted Mrs Fearon. "It was a surprise and we had no idea that such arrangements were made. The other surprise that we got was the arrival of our daughter, who lives in the United States, and she was a sight to behold. Our marriage is special, and with spiritual guidance from God, it has withstood the years."
Pride and joy
The marriage has produced four children, who are the pride and joy of their parents. Even though the four live outside of the parish, and despite their family obligations, they have maintained close communication with each other through the years.
Ronald, who is now 77 years old, and Anita, 74, first met round about 1958 while travelling on a minibus from Kingston to Portland. At that time, Ronald was a bus conductor on board the Eastern Queen, and Anita was a passenger aboard that same bus.
"I saw this beautiful girl and I sat down beside her and I told her that I was in love with her, " Mr Fearon reminisced. "She, however, made it abundantly clear that she was involved in a relationship and that she did not believe in having two men at the same time. I replied by telling her my father (God) would ensure that the best man would win. After that, I started seeing her more often, as she started travelling to Portland more regularly to visit family members."
And, as fate would have it, Anita, who at that time worked at Desnoes and Geddes, grew to like Ronald. On the eighth of June 1962, they both exchanged marital vows. The young couple also remembered a special pre-Independence treat, which was held at Titchfield school just days before the country gained its Independence. It was a fitting occasion for Portlanders, who laughed and danced to the singing and acting skills exhibited by the legendary Louise Bennett and Ranny Williams (Mass Ran).
Anita retired from active duties at the Port Antonio hospital from the post of ward assistant in 1998 after 37 years of service to that institution. Ronald, who retired earlier, does a little backyard farming.
Today, the two are still madly in love but, despite that, they have issued words of caution to young couples to allow God to guide them in all things so as to enjoy a successful marriage.